After playing for the McMaster Marauders for four years, McMaster linebacker Nick Shortill has hung up his maroon and grey jersey. The football doors will not be shut immediately, as he will be sporting another colour for another league this summer.
Ranked amongst the Canadian Football League’s top prospects all year, Shortill was selected in the second round by the Montreal Alouettes with the 13th pick in this year’s CFL Draft. He was the first linebacker to be chosen for the night.
“It was a relief hearing my name called more than anything. I was excited I knew where I was going to live after waiting so long,” said Shortill.
Though there were some injuries and setbacks along his journey, the linebacker hailing from Nobleton, Ont., brought a noticeable spark to the McMaster defense. After missing half of the 2013 season due to injury, Shortill came back stronger than ever and proved to be a player of professional calibre.
In his final season playing for the Marauders, Shortill performed exceptionally well. He led his team with 29 solo tackles in seven regular season games, and added an interception and 2.5 sacks. Shortill was awarded with the OUA’s President’s Trophy as Stand-Up Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named an OUA First-Team All-Star for the 2014 season.
A new chapter will start with Shortill, but he will always remember playing for the McMaster Marauders and the lessons it brought. “I have learned a lot while being a Marauder that’s going to help me in the CFL including film study, caring for your body and how to be a man,” said Shortill.
Over his time, the Marauders played in three Vanier Cup appearances in a period of four years. Not many people can say that they had an opportunity to hoist a championship trophy in both their rookie and fourth-year veteran years.
“My favourite moment playing in maroon was winning the Vanier Cup in my rookie year,” said Shortill of the 41-38 double overtime victory against Laval.
As training has already begun for Shortill and the Montreal Alouettes, he will focus on taking the necessary steps to be ready to compete on a higher level. “I look forward to the increased level of competition and the atmosphere of being a professional,” said Shortill.
“I’d like to thank all of my teammates, coaches and support staff that have helped,” he said.
With the games at Ron Joyce Stadium behind him, Nick Shortill will now have a chance to show himself on a bigger field, and on a bigger screen.
McMaster knows the conference well, but not this opponent.
In the 2014 Vanier Cup, Mac will take on the Montreal Carabins, in Montreal. The Carabins, who compete in the RSEQ conference, have never played the Marauders. McMaster has played RSEQ powerhouse Laval in their two previous Vanier games.
The new opponent won’t bother Montreal, though. This whole scene is brand new for the program. It’s a storybook scenario for the Carabins: this is their first Vanier game and they get to play it at home in front of their fans. They topped Laval while neutering the Rouge et Or’s stud quarterback. Now, they can hop on a subway and hit up practice.
It won’t bother Mac, either. As offensive co-ordinator Jon Behie says, the team has been there before. But there are still inherent differences that come when you’re preparing for a non-OUA team.
“When you play out-of-conference, you don’t have a ton of context. You can’t really tell from film what you’re seeing,” said Behie. “When you see Western, and they just played Guelph and we have already played Guelph, there’s a measurable there for us.”
“We know the kids at Guelph – we recruited them too. We know Western’s personnel better. Instantly, you get better context. Now, we’re watching Montreal play Manitoba on film. There aren’t a ton of players that we know well and so we are trying to figure out who is stronger or weaker.”
Behie’s point offers great insight into the coaching struggle of a Vanier-bound team. Between Behie, head coach Ptaszek, defensive co-ordinator Greg Knox and a handful of other coaches, they are trying to figure out a number of different variables at once while also picking up on schemes that they do not typically see. Mac isn’t without their own personal struggles though – the team has only scored one offensive touchdown in their last two games.
“It’s tough because ultimately, the goal is to win the game, and we’ve won our games. Are we happy with where we’ve been the past two weeks? No, not at all,” said Behie. “I simply think we have to better. We have to do better than one touchdown, I know that and our guys know that.”
Make no mistake, the Marauders seem like a conservative offence because they are one. Behie says they do not want to turn the ball over or give the opposing team good field position because their defence has been playing so well.
“There’s some people who still have [our old play style] in their mind, where we aired it out like we did in 2011 and 2012,” said Behie. There were some deep shots taken in the Mitchell Bowl that hit the receiver but were not caught. Behie agrees that if those are caught then the conversation about the offence is different.
Regardless, this is the game plan right now: hold on to the ball, give the defenders rest and if you can’t score points, pin the opponent deep in their own territory. No one is saying it is the most inspiring brand of football to watch, but it is inarguably effective.
The question becomes how effective Marshall Ferguson and the rest of the offense will be against Montreal.
The front seven of the Carabins is among the best in the country. Mount Allison was given similar praise last week, but they had inflated stats because of an easy schedule. The Carabins have played seven games against ranked teams.qMontreal has sixth-round CFL pick Mathieu Girard on the defensive line, as well as two other players that Behie says will be CFL prospects. In seven games against ranked opponents, the Carabins have allowed 135.3 rushing yards per game. Five of those games came against teams who finished in the top ten for rushing yards per game.
Where they struggle is defending the pass. In seven games against ranked opponents, they allowed 302.5 yards through the air per game. Six of those seven games were against top ten passing offences, and Mac finished second in passing yards per game this season. If the Marauders can get their passing game figured out, they will be in great shape.
Montreal’s offence has come around too. It hasn’t been consistent to start the year, but they figured it out as the season went along.
29 points against Manitoba is an impressive mark, but they needed 421 passing yards to get there. That will be a problem for the Carabins, though. Mac’s passing defence is peaking at the most important part of the season and shutting down passing attacks. If the Carabins get in an early hole and have to pass, the Marauders will be playing with house money.
The offence doesn’t inspire confidence, but the defence – led by defensive backs Joey Cupido and Steven Ventresca, linebacker Nick Shorthill, as well as linemen Mark Mackie and Mike Kashak – is one of the most dominant groups to don the Maroon and Grey in any sport.
How this all comes together is the difference maker. Mac has not been consistent, but they look good now. This is different than the 2011 and 2012 Vanier Cup games: the Marauders control their own destiny. If McMaster weaves everything together – something more likely than not – the Vanier could be coming back to Hamilton for the second time in school history.
By Kalina Laframboise
CUP Quebec Bureau Chief
MONTREAL (CUP) — The Parti Québécois’ proposed Charter of Values aimed at separating church and state is raising concern in post-secondary institutions across Quebec.
The controversial project announced on Tuesday would prohibit government employees from wearing conspicuous religious symbols — such as turbans, hijabs, crucifixes and kippahs — and time off for religious holidays. Educational institutions and hospitals could apply to opt out of these conditions but a ban on veils that cover the face would be permanent.
The law would also amend the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to provide an outline on accommodation requests.
However, the bill would not affect members of the National Assembly and would allow politicians to wear religious symbols if they choose. Furthermore, the crucifix that hangs in the National Assembly and the cross on Mount Royal in Montreal would remain in place as Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville clarified it to be part of Quebec’s history.
The law would extend to all public sector workers including judges, police officers, teachers, daycare workers and municipal personnel in what the provincial government deems an effort to “maintain social peace and promote harmony” and to “prevent tensions from growing.”
Universities are refraining from commenting for now.
“We have taken no position yet,” said Concordia University Spokesperson Chris Mota. “We are assessing the proposal.”
Jenny Desrochers, director of media relations at the Université du Québec à Montréal, also confirmed that UQÀM has not taken a position.
However, the proposal led to a massive protest in the downtown core of Montreal Saturday afternoon and spawned a petition for an inclusive Quebec that drew the support of post-secondary teachers and students across the province.
John Aspler, a graduate student studying neuroscience at McGill University, attended the protest because he was concerned with the ramifications of a charter.
“I protested today because this law impacts women far more than it impacts men, making it sexist. It impacts ethnic and religious minorities as well as immigrants far more than it impacts white Christians, making it racist and discriminatory.” said Aspler. “Christians generally won’t be affected by this legislation.”
Aspler feels that the Quebec Charter of Values acts as a “hypocrisy of the highest order.”
“The charter doesn’t level the playing field, it ensures that a whole segment of society leaves the public eye,” added Aspler.
Avi Goldberg, a sociology professor at Vanier College and Concordia University in Montreal, says he addressed the issue in the classroom at Vanier with his students where he encouraged young adults to discuss the proposal.
“One student said all kinds of professionals in this province who are getting degrees and might be religious,” said Goldberg. “But they are being told they are not allowed to be themselves.”
Goldberg explained that the law “will certainly affect anyone who is teaching at university or CÉGEP in one way or another,” and is concerned it may impede students who wear religious symbols to pursue employment in the public sector since they may not feel welcome.
“Maybe there’s a lack of belief that one can be religious in their home, minds and heart, and at the same time do a job that they are able to do and serve the laws of the public,” said Goldberg. “But I think that’s possible.”
Goldberg is not the only one to foster a discussion in the classroom. Ashley Davis, a student studying arts at Dawson College, admits that one of her teachers openly criticizes the Quebec Charter of Values in class and through social media.
“He’s pretty vocal about it. It’s interesting, because while he himself is secular, he’s culturally tied to a specific faith,” said Davis. “And it seems as though he’s really pushing for people to look at this as an issue of freedom rather than integration.”
Lorenzo DiTommaso, the chair of the department of religion at Concordia University, believes that the department could manage if the Charter of Values becomes law and that it would not affect the courses offered.
“The thing is this: would it have an impact on our courses? No,” said DiTommaso. “We set our courses on the basis of our program needs. I don’t see how this law can affect the courses being offered.”
DiTommaso continued to say that he hopes religious holidays will not be affected by the Charter but that the department could find ways to work around it by setting their own schedules or employing a graduate student or teaching assistant to replace the professor on the date of the holiday.
Myles Chats With Montreal's Newest Noisemakers: The Breezes
Myles Herod
Entertainment Editor
Montreal’s The Breezes are not only defined by their geography, but by an irreverent dose of humour, unpredictable at any instant.
Consisting of Matt Oppenheimer, Daniel Leznoff, James Benjamin and Adam Feingold, the electro-pop foursome possess tunes and talent of adroit jest, as evident in their viral, sing-a-long anthem “Count to Eleven.” However, as guitarist Dan Leznoff explains to ANDY, their roots are everything. “Seriously, Montreal made us. We’ve seen every band. Living here, the culture just breathes into you, covers you like a film of dust you don’t notice.”
Questioned further as to what gives Quebecois artist’s their certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ over Western Canadian cotemporaries, he didn’t hesitate to lay it down, proud and precise. ”Montreal is significantly cheaper than Vancouver and Toronto. It attracts artists who want to focus deeply on their craft without having to worry about rent and food. When you are really dedicated to learning about your art you come to Montreal and then you move on hopefully. It nurtures growth more than other cities.”
While the band’s sound derives from a dance floor zeitgeist of neon vibes and skinny ties, The Breezes undoubtedly know how to craft tasty hooks that balance the digital divide between today’s Top 40 and indie-chill. Indeed, adopting inspiration from all facets is integral to their tone – channeling the spirit of everyone from the late Owen Hart and Evel Knievel to Guns N' Roses and Ice-T, “boyhood heroes” as he calls them.
As for songwriting styles, Dan makes no bones about it: it’s about camaraderie and analogies. “A songwriter is just like an athlete, after a while he stops thinking about what he does and just does it. All you can do is live your art, study and listen a lot. Being in a band is all about building together. Competition is a force that helps the building process but one that can obviously destroy everything. Its all about figuring out how much space to give and how much to take.”
Aided by an escalating profile, the band exudes confidence, rather than evince egotism – something blithely reflected in the strength of their music and the successful manner by which they are managed.
The Internet can be a pitiless pool of blog-o-sphere build-up. For The Breezes, life’s too short to worry – embracing technology, but also swaying to their own sails. “Aint no taint to the paint. The Internet has leveled the playing field and opened the door for people all the way from Xanadu to Atlantis to Shangri La to know about you instantaneously, no matter where you’re from. We download music, shop at record stores, listen to the radio, go to clubs and the library to find music. Digital streaming and blog stuff have changed surprisingly little. A song is still a living, breathing thing that you hear with your ears and feel with your soul. ”
Online, songs can sustain longevity. However, to succeed professionally, a group lives or dies by their ability to perform live. From a recording studio to stage milieu, Dan explained the difference between both in typical Breezes fashion. “Our live show is much more free and loose, like a virgin in Tijuana on Spring Break. The record is like her audio engineer twin sister, who views Spring Break as extra study time to nitpick and dissect sonic mysteries.”
Anticipating label approval, and a subsequent debut LP within months, the band are currently on tour, turning people onto their EP of bedroom psychedelia entitled “Update My High.”
The future looks bright, as Dan concludes, with good times ahead “In two years hopefully we won’t see The Breezes, hopefully people will see us. The party is starting very soon…”
If that’s the case, count me in.
The Breezes will be performing in Toronto on March. 24 at Wrongbar
